Cable plug and latch holding the adapter



R. L. TRIPLETT CABLH'PLUG AND LATCH HOLDING THE ADAPTER Filed May 11, 1933 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CABLE PLUG AND LATCH HOLDING 'rnE' ADAPTER.

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cable plugs, and has for its object to provide, in connection with a cable plug having a plurality of contacting prongs, an adapter having sockets to receive the prongs of the plug and provide a desired number of pins so that the plug may be used with sockets having various numbers of holes. For instance, the plug may have six pins thereon adapted to fit in a corresponding number of holes in a socket. By use of the adapter the same plug may be used in connection with a socket having either four, five or seven holes.

It is also an object of this invention to provide, in connection with a plug having anadapter thereon, means for releasably holding the adapter so that it may be readily applied to or removed from the plug.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, in connection with a plug, a cap on the upper end thereof to which an additional wire of the cable may be attached and connected to the grid of a radio set.

These and other advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the plug.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the plug with an adapter attached thereto, with the plug partly cut away to show means for holding the adapter on the plug.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but with the adapter removed.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 5, showing the locking member in position for holding the adapter on the plug.

Figure 5 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the plug, with an adapter on the lower end thereof.

Figure 6 is a section similar to Figure 4, but showing the locking member out of locking position.

Figure 7 is a lower end view of the plug.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the adapter.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the adapter with the element l8a removed.

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the adapter.

The body of the plug I is composed of some suitable insulating material, and is roughly cylindrical in shape with a reduced lower end 2, which has therein, adjacent the other part of the plug, notches 3 (Figure 5). Extending longitudinally through the center of the plug and the reduced end is a hole 4 for receiving one end of a cable 8. Adjacent the hole 4 and extending longitudinally through the plug and the reduced end is a smaller hole 5, which may be connected to the hole by a narrow slit or may be separated therefrom by the material of the plug. Fitting over the reduced end of the body part of the plug is a bracket 6, which has on each end a projection 1 extending into the notches 3 for holding the bracket in position.

The end of the cable in the plug extends through a hole in the bracket 6, which is provided with an eye 9 formed in one end of a spring II]. This eye serves to line the hole for the end of the cable and to provide a means for supporting the spring 10 for holding a lock member I! in position. Six of the wires of the cable extend into prongs H and I2, extending from a cap member l3 fitting over the reduced end of the body of the plug, and over the bracket 6.

There are six of these prongs, four small ones H, and two large ones I2. These wires are soldered to the prongs, while another and seventh wire of the cable is attached to a sleeve l4 insorted in a hole in the center of the bottom of the cap and threaded into a hole in the center of the bracket 6. This sleeve not only serves to receive a pin l8a located on an adapter l8, but also serves to hold the cap on the bracket.

Extending longitudinally through the hole 5 is a latch member i5, which has a knurled handle or finger piece I50. at its outer end and has its inner end bent to form a lock member I1, which engages in a notch 2| of a pin l8a, located in the center of the adapter H3. The inner end of the latch member I5 is supported by means of a plate l6 attached to the reduced end of the body of the plug. The adapter l8 has a plurality of holes for receiving the prongs of the plug. Four of these holes H] are adapted to receive the small prongs ll, while two of these holes are larger and adapted to receive the large prongs l2. The holes and prongs being of different sizes make it easy to position the adapter on the plug.

Before the adapter can be properly seated on the plug the two large prongs must be seated in the two large holes. After they are thus seated the adapter can be forced onto the prongs and fastened thereon. When the adapter is placed upon the plug the pin I in the center thereof will extend through the sleeve 14 and the notch 2| in the end of the pin will receive the look I! on the end of the latch member l5 for holding the adapter on the end of the plug.

The adapter is provided with any desired number of prongs. In the present instance the adapter has seven prongs, one prong for each of the prongs of the plug, namely, four small prongs 22, two large prongs 23, and a seventh prong 24 electrically connected to the pin |8a by means of a plate 25. On the upper end of the body of the plug is a binder screw 26, which is adapted to receive one end of a cable wire 21, to which is snapped the grid clip of theradio set.

When it is desiredto remove the adapter from the plug the latchmember I5 is turned counterclockwise so that the lock I7 is moved out of the notch 2|, after which the adapter may be withdrawn from the plug. In order to attach the adapter to the plug the holes inthe adapter are arranged to receive the prongs on the plug-and when the prongs are properly positionedwithrelation to the holes the adapter is forced onto the plug. The latch is then turned clockwise-so that the part I! will fit in the notch 2 I, preventing the removal of the adapter from the plug;

, In the present instance the adapter is shown as having seven prongs,.-Ibut an adapterxmaybe used in connection with theuplug which 'has'either four, five or sixprongs, the wiring being arranged to correspond tothe change in the number of prongs.

It will be understood that I desire tocompre- .hend' within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of my claims and my invention.

Having thus 'fully described my invention, what I claimas -new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1... In combinationin a plug,'a body having a reduced end and a hole through the body, a brack- M35.

et=-member-supported on the reduced end and :having a hole .thereinpan eye to line the hole,

a cable extending through the hole and having "having one end in the bracket, said cable having a plurality of wires therein, a capfittingover the reduced end of the body and having terminals connected to the wires, and meansengaging the cap-and 'the bracket for holding the cap on the body.

3; Ina plug, a body; having a hole therein, a bracketon the body across one'end' of the hole,

a a cable containing a plurality of wires in the hole,

a cap on the body fitting over the bracketga plurality' of :hollow prongs .in'which thewires ofthe a cable I are fastened, and means extending through '-the capintothe bra'cket forholding the cap on the' body.

'4.- In a plug to be used with an adapter having holes therein toreceive the contactprongs of the plug and having thereonmeans for cooperating cwiit-h .latch' means.;inv the plug to secure "the plug 5'and the adapter-together; a body'having a pair scontaininga-pluralityof wires in one of said holes and contact prongs in the plug to which the ends of-longitudinally"extendingholes therein, a cable .of-said-wires.are attachedand latch means hav- ..ing lockingmeans. at one end adapted to cooper- 1 70 v ate.with means on-theadapter to lockithe plug .andthe adapter together and having manually engageablemeans at..the other end thereof for operationof said latch means from the exterior oi-the, plug,'said latch means extending through "the other longitudinal hole of the body whereby,

when said latch means is engaged with said operating means by manual operation of the latch plug and having thereon a locking pin for cooper- .ating-with means in the plug to secure the plug and adapter together; a body having a pair of longitudinally-extending holes therein, a cap adapted to fit on the body over one end of the holes, said cap having a hole therein, a plurality of prongs on the cap, a cable in one of the holes of the body and having Wires connected respectively to each of the prongs, and means extending through the other longitudinal hole of the body,

' said-last-namedimeans comprising a latch member having locking means at one end thereof adapted to be disposed within said cap and having handle means at theopposite end disposedoutside the body whereby, when said locking pin is inserted through the .hole inithe cap: and the; said last-named means :is: engaged" therewith byzmanipulation of said handle means, theplug and-1 adapter are secured together.

'6. In combination in a plug to be used with an adapter having alocking pin and holes forthe plugprongsa body having a pair of holes therein, a bracket attached to the body over one endof each hole, said bracket having a hole therein, a spring having one end formed into an eye'fitting in the hole of the bracket, a cable in one of the holes of the body and having one end in the eye, a cap adapted to fit on the body over the 'bracket,-a plurality of prongs on the cap, said cable having a wire therein for each prong, means engaging the cap and the bracket to hold the cap on "the'body and a latch member extending through the'other hole of the body to engage a notch in the pin to hold the adapter on the plug, said spring engaging the latch memberto hold it in engagement with the pin.

7. In combination in a plug to be used with an adapter having a locking pin andhol'es for the plug prongs, a body having a hole therein, a bracket adapted to engage the bodyover the hole, said bracket having a hole therein, a cap adapted to'fit on the body over the bracket, said cap having therein a hole and prongs around-the hole, a

cable in the hole in the body, said cable having wires connected to the prongs, a sleeve extending through the hole in the cap'into the hole of the bracket for holding the cap on the body, said sleeve being arranged to receive the adapter pin,"

and means on the body to engage a transverse slot in the pin 'and secure it against longitudinal movement with respect thereto to hold the adapter on the body.

8. In a-plug to be used with an adapter having an upstandinglocking pin thereon, said pin h ing a transverse slot adjacent the end thereof; a plug having a longitudinally-extending' hole therein, a latch member pi'votally mounted in said hole and extending therethrough, said latch member having a finger piece at one end thereof and a lockmember extending from the other end thereof said lock member being spring-urged in 'one direction and operable in the other direction by the manipulation of the finger piece whereby,

tion of the'latch member by the finger piece,

the lock member may be released from the adapter locking pin.

9. In a plug to be used with an adapter having an upstanding notchedlocking pin thereon and holes therein adapted to receive the contact prongs of the plug; a plug body having a pair of longitudinally-extending holes therein, one having therein a cable with a plurality of wires, each being attached to contact prongs at one end of the plug, and the other having extending therethrough a pivoted latch member having at one end thereof a handle and at the other end thereof adjacent the contact prongs a lock member urged by a spring in one direction and capable of being operated by the handle against spring pressure in the other direction, whereby when the contact prongs of the plug are engaged in the holes in the adapter, the lock member normally engages the notch in the locking pin and secures the pin against longitudinal movement and the plug and adapter together and whereby, by manipulation of the handle, said lock member may be disengaged from the notch and the plug and adapter separated one from the other.

10. In a plug, a substantially cylindrical body having an axial hole therein and having a shoulder and flange defined at the lower end thereof, a cap comprising a cylinder closed at one end and having its open end in abutment with the shoulder and having an axially-disposed sleeve in the closed end thereof, a bifurcated bracket attached to said sleeve and engageable with said flange to secure the body and cap together, said closed end of said cap having outwardly-extending contact prongs attached thereto and disposed about said sleeve, and a cable extending through the axial hole in said body and having the wires thereof respectively secured to the said contact prongs, whereby said flange, bracket and the end of said cable, are enclosed by said cap.

11. In a plug, a substantially cylindrical body having an axial hole therein and having a shoulder and flange defined at the lower end thereof, said flange having notches therein adjacent saidshoulder, a cap comprising a cylinder closed at one end and having its open end in abutment with the shoulder and having an axially-disposed sleeve in the closed end thereof with a bifurcated bracket attached thereto, each furcation thereof having thereon a projection engageable with said notches, said cap also having outwardly-extending contact prongs longitudinally disposed and spaced radially thereon, and a cable extending through the axial hole in said body and having the wires thereof attached to the inner ends of said outwardly-extending contact prongs, whereby when the projections on the furcations are engaged with the notches in the flange, the body and cap are rigidly connected and enclose said cable and bracket in the space defined therebetween.

12. In a plug, a substantially cylindrical body having an axial hole therein and having a shoulder and flange defined at the lower end thereof, said flange having notches therein adjacent said shoulder, a cap comprising a cylinder closed at one end and having its open end in abutment with the shoulder and having an axially-disposed sleeve in the closed end thereof with a bifurcated bracket attached thereto, said bracket having an eye defined therein, each furcation of said bracket having thereon a projeciionengageable with said notches, said cap also having longitudinal outwardly-extending contact prongs spaced radially thereon, and a cable extending through the axial hole in said body and through the eye in said bracket, and having the respective wires thereof attached to the inner ends of each of said outwardly-extending contact prongs whereby, when the projections on the furcations are engaged with the notches in the flange, the body and cap are rigidly connected and enclose said cable and bracket in the space defined therebetween.

RAY L. TRIPLE'I'I'. 

